That was in 2005, and since then he has left a lasting impression as one of the organisation's most dedicated volunteers.

On Friday, Mr Brown was presented with a PCYC life membership in recognition of his service. And, at a time when more and more volunteer-run services struggle to meet demand, he said the recognition was welcomed, but not necessary.

"It is a a dying art, it really is. People don't want to volunteer these days," he said.

"I think the greatest problem with volunteering is often people don't feel valued. They feel ignored and unacknowledged and they just lose interest super quick.

"Apart from the fact that we live in a society that's constantly distracted and we seem to all be moving away from a commitment to longevity in any task. But, for me it's always been about making a commitment to something and following it through."

A former police officer from Western Australia, Mr Brown is the coordinator for Launceston PCYC's Mobile Activity Centre program. He has been heavily involved with youth outreach programs at Launceston PCYC since 2005. This includes his role as the coordinator for the club's Taiko drumming program, since 2007.

In the past 12 years he has taken students to perform across the state numerous times, volunteering his time in order to run classes, perform and compete in Taiko drumming.

Mr Brown also volunteers his time for coaching, fundraising and competing opportunities for the Olympic weightlifting sessions.

Through this he has been a dedicated coach for the past 15 years, attending every competition, coaching four times a week, plus additional training sessions when needed.

But as Mr Brown explained, his association with PCYC started long before he moved to Tasmania.

"I came here [Launceston] in 2004. But PCYC had always been part of my life," he said.

"Since the - well it would have been the mid-80s over in Western Australia. My kids were part of the club and I trained ... started doing Olympic weight lifting myself.

"Then I became a masters lifter when I turned 34. I started coaching in 1992. I've been in a volunteer role ever since. I had always had an interest in percussion, but I wasn't introduced to Taiko until I moved to Tasmania."

Taiko drumming is a centuries old practice used in Japanese festivals and pageants. Taiko, in Japan, means drum. Pronounced Dora-Mu in Japanese, the word drum was given the kanji reading of 'tiger dream', representing Tasmania's story of losing its icon, the thylacine.

With a passion for percussion, Mr Brown helped form the Launceston PCYC Show Taiks ensemble. The group started through an outreach program led by Mr Brown in Ravenswood and Waverley.

Now consisting of students from across Launceston, he said it was proof you could find talent anywhere - if you gave people a chance to prove themselves.

"Initially, in the group, about eight students of the 13 we had drumming were from Ravenswood," he said.

"They have stood the test of time and they were a reflection that you can go anywhere and find real talent.

"I've always had an interest in those sorts of areas and some of the greatest respect you get is from little kids in those areas - you just need to put them in the right direction.

"That became the catalyst of the 103 performances [through PCYC] we have done now. There have been some really amazing personal outcomes with that and we have been all over the state - Strahan, Bicheno, Oatlands - we've been everywhere."

Mr Brown said one of the biggest rewards he had earned through his involvement with PCYC were the transformations he had witnessed - even if it took some time.

"Being from a separated family myself, maybe that's what interests me in in terms of the high needs suburbs and kids from disadvantaged backgrounds," he said.

"It's about doing something, offering something and then seeing the benefits. Some of the transformations in behaviour from very distracted kids, who ultimately fall into line.

"I have had really nice feedback from kids years after the fact who express their thanks. It's always good to receive. Because you might not get it at the time, not there and then and you might never get it. But I know my contribution is making a difference. I suppose that is what matters."